Tuesday, 7 March 2017

10 Ways to Improve Your Leadership Skills at Work!

Every team needs a fearless leader to
help them grow and to push them to be the best that they can be. But
starting a business and leading a group of people require very different
skills. Being a leader in your company means everything from keeping
your employees happy, to making sure that everyone is doing their part,
to sometimes having to deal with difficult situations. Become an
effective business leader and inspire your team with these tops tips:

1) Have a clear vision

Your
job as a leader is to define the goals and vision for your company and
to communicate that vision with your team. Providing them with a clear
path to follow makes working together for a common goal all that much
easier. If you all have the same vision, you will all work hard to see
that vision come to fruition. Explain to them in detail how this vision
will not only benefit the company, but as a result how it will benefit
them. Transparency is key here.

2) Show you’re passionate

Show
you care and your employees will care too. Having a genuine passion for
the projects that you work on will not only get your employees
motivated, but your excitement will rub off on others. Show employees
that you appreciate their input, and show your enthusiasm. There’s
nothing worse than a boss who doesn’t care.

3) Walk the walk

Be
a role model for your employees by SHOWING rather than TELLING. The
best leaders lead by example. Want your employees to follow process?
Start by following it yourself. Your team will admire someone who works
by example and will likely emulate your behavior. Show the qualities
that you would like to see in your employees.

4) Make concrete plans

Companies need direction, without a
clear goal it’s difficult for anyone to get there. Make concrete plans
for the future and map out how your team can help you get there with
realistic timelines.

5) Remember that it’s not about you

Being
a leader is not about being in charge, looking the best or being right.
It’s about building up your team and motivating them to work to the
best of their ability for the sake of your company. Remember that you
are all on the same team and that you are playing a role in that team.

6) Stay positive

This
may be difficult when everything seems to be going wrong, but a
negative leader only spells disaster for the rest of the office. Showing
apathy or negativity will only lead your employees to feeling the same
way. By keeping positive about situations, you are reassuring your team
while keeping them motivated to push through. People are also naturally
attracted to positive attitudes.

7) Improve your communication skills

One
thing to remember is that communication is a two-way stream. While
being able to communicate your vision and goal is important, be sure to
also pick up on any queues that others may be giving off. Listen to your
employees when they have complaints, opinions or ideas and you will go
far. Strive to continuously improve your communication skills.

8) Admit your weaknesses

The
best leader isn’t someone who has all the answers, nor is it someone
who never makes mistakes. A good leader is someone who identifies his or
her weaknesses and utilises the team around them to learn and grow. Be
humble and don’t presume that your opinion is always the right opinion.
Trust others and watch your company blossom.

9) Keep on learning

The
professional world changes constantly. Never remain complacent. Keep
pushing yourself to improve and learn more about your industry to become
a better leader. Stay open to everyone’s ways of thinking. Someone may
have a better way of doing things than you do.

10) Think critically

Being
a critical thinker is key to being a good leader. While staying open to
everyone’s ideas helps your company to innovate and grow, being able to
spot a good idea from a bad one is even more important. Look at
projects critically, identify any potential problems that may lie ahead
and find a way around them. Ask as many questions as possible to ensure
that your idea is airtight.